FUN-travel: Reykjavik, Iceland – Day 2

November 10, 2014 by  

Day 53 – Friday, August 21 – Reykjavik, Iceland – Full Day 2 – full on sun – balmy summer day – high 50’s on coast & low 60’s inland

29 Reykjavik, Iceland  2014

Stokkur

 What I LIKE

  • 6:30 – wake up to good hot espresso
  • – ready for big day of adventure
  • 8:35 – pick up for Grand Circle Tour
  • 8:45 – arrive main station to change
  • 9:10 – depart – scenic drive
  • – includes rolling hills w/rugged lava landscape
  • – black volcanic jagged mountains in distance
  • – occasional steam spouts from bubbling hot springs
  • So clear can see huge glacier miles away!
  • Having a heat wave! Sunny & 55
  • 10:30 – 1st stop – Fridheimer
  • – gigantic green houses growing tomatoes
  • – 51 rows, each 90’ long & double sided
  • – eat tomato soup w/nice seeded baguette 900 Kroner =$7.50

FUN-fact – They grow tomatoes all year round under artificial lighting in greenhouses yielding an average of a ton a day with an annual harvest of 370 tons!

  • 11:15 – depart for
  • 11:25 – 2nd stop – Geysir @ Haukadalur
  • only erupts during earthquakes – last time in 2000
  • – pretty impressive @ 200 to 250 ft high

28 Reykjavik, Iceland  2014

  • Strokkur erupts every 8 to 10 mins
  • – impressive @ 75 to 100 ft high
  • 12:55 – depart for
  • 1:05 – 3rd stop – waterfall Gullfoss – really spectacular!
  • – 3-step “staircase” abruptly plunges in two stages – 35’ then 65’ into crevice 100’ deep

    54 Reykjavik, Iceland  2014

    Thingvellir National Park

  • – crevice about 60’ wide & 1.5 mi long then plunges – 210 ft into canyon surrounding it
  • – beautiful rainbow @ end – get up close & personal
  • – really loud, ferocious & incredibly powerful
  • 2:07 – 4th stop –  Thingvellir National Park
  • – pass site where Eurasian & American tectonic plates are pulling apart
  • 3:15 – take nice walk to
  • – Parliament – venue for general assembly
  • – established in 930 – annual meetings held until 1798
  • 4:00 – depart back to Reykjavik
  • 5:08 – drop off not far from hotel – go shopping
  • – need to find gifts – ooh! nice sweatshirt only 5900 Kroner = $50 – deal of the century
  • & get VAT refund for one I got me yesterday! YEAH!
  • 6:00 – room R&R
  • 8:00 – dinner reservation Sushi Samba
  • – Japanese South American Fusion
  • – place is packed & on sound overload
  • 8:15 – get seated
  • 8:45 – bread w/basil cream butter arrives

FUN-food – Sushi Samba– 1) surf n turf roll = lobster tempura, avocado, beef carpaccio, spicy mayo, teriyaki, chili crumble = 3190 Kroner – 2) Hot Maguro roll = torpedo shrimp, tuna, avocado, jalapeno mayo, kimchee = 2990 Kroner – 3) under “Street Food” deep fried Cuban lobster cigar = chorizo, dates, chili jam, chimichurri sauce = 1990 Kroner – 4) reindeer mini burger on brioche, Portobello, manchego, bleu cheese sauce = 2590 Kroner – Viña Maipo Vitral Reserve 2012 Carmenere = 6590 Kroner

44 Reykjavik, Iceland  2014

Gullfoss

  •  – By far the BEST meal we’ve had all trip
  • – excellent mix of flavors
  • & most expensive @ 17350 Kroner
  • – Yikes! Thanks god it’s just monopoly money
  • = $150 US
  • – definitely hip, hop & happening – not just a meal but an event!
82 Reykjavik, Iceland  2014

Puffins

What I DON’T LIKE

  •  Tried to restart my Netflix subscription @ home
  • & told there is no service in Iceland – but coming soon!
  • Only negative w/dinner all served at same time
  • – should have ordered tasting menu – they will let you share an order for 1 – just didn’t want dessert

FUN-fact – Yellow Stone is the tallest predictable geyser in the world with powerful bursts between 150-200 feet. Its interval ranges from 6 to 15 hours, although recently, it has averaged 7-8 hours and eruptions last between 9-12 minutes

More FF – Iceland has a population of 320,000 with 2/3rds living in the capital city of Reykjavik.

72 Reykjavik, Iceland  2014

The Sun Voyager Sculpture

Comments